This week's post comes from PHMC's digital director, Sean Adkins.
Tyler Stump of the Pennsylvania State Archives examines a ledger during last year's Ask an Archivist (photo Don Giles)
On Wednesday, October 2, six archivists from the Pennsylvania State Archives will test their knowledge on Twitter by taking part in Ask an Archivist Day. Sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, Ask An Archivist offers the public the opportunity to connect directly to archivists in their communities. Archivists around the country will respond to questions tweeted with the hashtag #AskAnArchivist. Questions will vary widely, from the silly (What do archivists talk about over lunch?) to the practical (How do I preserve records that were damaged in a flood?) Ask an Archivist Day is open to everyone. To participate, tweet a question to @PHMC and include the hashtag #AskAnArchivist.
Here’s our schedule:
10:15 AM to 11:00 AM: Brett Reigh will guide a digital tour through some of The Pennsylvania State Archives’ most requested images. This will range from the iconic view of strikers marching to Lattimer to Pittsburgh’s Point just before the onset of the Great Depression.
11:15 AM to 12:00 PM: Join Kurt Bell for his discussion on the State Archives collection of train-related images, including those featuring Ferdinand Foch and Charles Lindbergh.
1:15 PM to 2:00 PM: Tyler Stump will offer his insight into the institutional records preserved by the State Archives.
2:15 PM to 3:00 PM: Angelica Yost and Chelsea Houck will introduce you to the manuscript records/diaries & journals from the State Archives.
3:15 PM to 4:00 PM: Aaron McWilliams will offer his tips on searching land records and genealogical records from The State Archives. Bring your Ancestry.com questions!
Please check the April program page for upcoming events. I've highlighted some below, but there's always more to know.
Next week (Monday, April 23, through Sunday, April 29) people who work in museums, people who visit museums, and people who like to read about museums will unite across the world during Museum Week 2018. (There's probably a not very complicated Venn diagram of that previous sentence, since people who work in museums generally fall into the other two categories as well.) This year's overall theme is "Living together, citizenship and tolerance."
The daily hashtags, starting with Monday, Apr. 23, are: #womenMW, #cityMW, #heritageMW, #professionsMW, #kidsMW, #natureMW, and #differenceMW (more info on each). Sites on the Trails of History generally post at least some days during Museum Week; @PHMC will be retweeting, as will I (@AmyKFox). Or follow your favorite museums on Twitter (if you don't already) to see what they're posting. You don't have to work in a museum (or be officially registered) to participate. Just have fun!
Tyler Gum, director of the PA Military Museum, welcomes guests to the PA Museums Awards Ceremony (photo courtesy @museumnotations via Twitter)
Museums from around the state met earlier this week in the State College area during the PA Museums annual conference. Sessions took place at the American Philatelic Society's facility in Bellefonte, with an opening reception held at the Centre Furnace Mansion in State College. The PHMC's Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg hosted the PA Museums Awards Ceremony, where 11 institutional and 2 individual awards were presented.
Crane moving Niagara’s mainmast into place. Before work ended, the shrouds (hanging) needed to be secured to stabilize the mast. (Photo: Linda Bolla)
As a sailing ship is built, it is traditional to place a coin beneath her mast as it is stepped. This practice is said to have begun with ancient Romans so that, should the ship sink, sailors would have coin to pay Charon the ferryman to cross the River Styx into the afterlife. The tradition may have even older origins, however, as underwater archaeology has found non-Roman vessels to have coins beneath the mast. Today, we continue the tradition with the hope for good luck for this ship and her crew.
Coins placed beneath Niagara's mainmast 2018
Two coins were recovered and cleaned by Niagara’s Carpenter Adam Stanisz when the mainmast was removed late in 2017. A 1990 “Walking Liberty” silver dollar (upper left in above photo) was placed beneath the mainmast when this Niagara was first built. When the mainmast was removed and stepped again in 2000, a golden Sacagawea dollar from that year was added (lower left).
This year three new coins were added. Flagship Niagara League (FNL) Trustee and volunteer crew member Pat Federici donated a Sea Services Challenge Coin (lower middle in above photo) made especially for War of 1812 Bicentennial events at Detroit, MI in September 2012. This coin honors the services of the U. S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard. FNL Trustee Emeritus and long-time Erie Maritime Museum volunteer docent Ed Bolla offered an 1813 silver fifty cent coin (right). Finally, a stunning silver commemorative medal (upper middle) struck for the 2013 Bicentennial of the Battle of Lake was added. The medal was published by Dave Hayes and John Dean and designed and minted by Daniel Carr at Moonlight Mint in Colorado. On the obverse, Carr’s design features a bust of Oliver Hazard Perry, the International Peace Monument at Put-In-Bay, and flags of the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, representing lasting peace. The reverse features U.S. Brig Niagara in action.
Five coins in place awaiting resetting of the ship's mainmast
Coming up this weekend
Anthracite Heritage Museum April 21: Landscape and Environment Month Lecture—Robert Hughes of the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR) will present "The Sustainability Factor of Coalfield Community Groups in both the Anthracite and Bituminous Regions of PA and EPCAMR's Role Throughout NE & NC PA" (more info here). Lecture is free. 2 pm.
Conrad Weiser Homestead April 22: Living History Sunday—enjoy an afternoon of living history; guided tours offered. Noon-4 pm.
Daniel Boone Homestead April 21: Sheep and Fiber Day—the Homestead sheep will be sheared and artisans will demonstrate various steps of the textile production process (more info on Facebook event page). Vendors will be on hand with items made from alpaca and sheep's wool. Food will be available for purchase throughout the day. Cost is $7 for ages 16 and up, $4 for ages 5-15, free for Friends members and children age 4 and under. 10 am-4 pm.
Ephrata Cloister April 22: Ephrata Cloister Chorus Spring Concert—the concert will be held at Church of the Apostles United Church of Christ in Lancaster (more info on the website). Included on the program is a composition from the 1740s, newly transcribed from a copy found in the Ephrata Cloister archives. 4 pm.
Pennsbury Manor April 22: Bitters, Blubs and Brewing—enjoy a private tour of the kitchen garden, focused on the medicinal role of plants in the 17th and 18th centuries. Then a mixologist will teach you how to make your own bitters to take home. Must be at least 21 to participate. Cost is $20, which includes all materials and grounds admission (info on registering).
Pennsylvania Lumber Museum April 21-22: Spring Antique and Collectible Show and Sawmill Run—vendors from all over the U.S. will be selling a variety of wares. The museum's sawmill will be in operation on Saturday, and the birch still will be demonstrated both days. Admission charged, includes access to museum exhibits. Food and drink will be available for purchase. 10 am-4 pm both days.
Somerset Historical Center April 21: Common Threads Symposium—this program is offered in conjunction with Laurel Arts and features Sally C. Fink, fabric artist and author, and Mike Taylor, spinning wheel collector and author. Fiber artists will display and/or sell their work throughout the visitor center exhibit. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door (more info on the Facebook event page). (In conjunction with the symposium, there will be a quilt sale/fundraiser to generate funds for quilters and the Somerset Historical Center; contact c-Kross@pa.gov for details and to register.) 9 am-4 pm.
The September program page has info on events coming up this weekend through the end of the month. There have been some updates to the page since it was initially posted, and I've highlighted some events below.
Last Friday in Austin, TX, two Trails of History sites were honored with Leadership in History Awards from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). AASLH honored The State Museum of PA for its exhibit on the history of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the Somerset Historical Center for its recent publication, Shade Furnace: An Early 19th-Century Iron Making Community in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Congratulations!
A reenactment of the Battle of Brandywine is on tap for this weekend at Sandy Hollow, Birmingham Township (more details on the web). The folks at Brandywine Battlefield Park have been involved with a host of other organizations to plan this event in honor of the 240th anniversary of the battle that took place on September 11, 1777. On the actual anniversary, a cast of historical characters tweeted throughout the day to provide multiple perspectives in real time (well, real time 240 years later). I wasn't able to follow the whole day, but checked in from time to time. I thought it was pretty compelling and very interesting. It garnered some good attention from other Twitter accounts as well, which expanded the reach of the project. Search #BoB1777 on Twitter to see the tweets.
Last week, Philadelphia's CBS affiliate, CBS3, had an exclusive report revealing the names of Pennsbury Manor's recently adopted lambs. Reporter Vittoria Woodill met Lavender and Sage and spoke with staff and volunteers about the site and the animal program. You can watch the report below or find it at CBS Philly's website.
This weekend on the Trails of History...
Brandywine Battlefield Sept. 16-17: On Hallowed Ground—to commemorate the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine, Birmingham Township is presenting a two-day reenactment event. Please note that the event takes place at Sandy Hollow, not at our Trails of History site (loads of details are available on the event website).
Conrad Weiser Homestead Sept. 16-17: Change in weekend schedule—the site will be closed on Sat., Sept. 16, but open on Sun., Sept. 17, noon-4 pm.
Drake Well Museum and Park Sept. 16: Fall Gas Up—the museum hosts the Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society's display of antique gas engines, oil field and farm equipment, and more. 9 am-3 pm.
Graeme Park Sept. 15: An Evening with the Graemes—enjoy an evening of 18th-century entertainment, including dancing, card games, skits, and refreshments. Children age 13 and older are welcome to attend. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased on Eventbrite. Period attire is welcome but not required. 7-9 pm. Sept. 17: Living History Sunday—today's event explores slavery in colonial Pennsylvania and at Graeme Park. The Keith and Graeme families were slave holders, as were many of their contemporaries. Noon-3 pm.
Hope Lodge Sept. 17: Site open—enjoy the grounds and take a guided tour of the mansion. Admission charged. 1-4 pm (tours at 1:00 and 2:30 pm).
Old Economy Village Sept. 16: Saturday programming—this week's offering is Decorative Arts. Included in regular admission, so please start at the Visitor Center. 11 am-4 pm.
Pennsbury Manor Sept. 17: Sunday programming—this week, Open Hearth Cooking features the bake oven. Included in regular admission. 1-4 pm.
Pennsylvania Lumber Museum Sept. 17: 3rd Sunday Program—this month's program is "The CCC in World War II." Mike Schultz, author of From the Forest to the Battlefield: Forty Civilian Conservation Corps Members Awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II, will discuss ways service in the CCC prepared enrollees for wartime military service. He will be joined by John Eastlake, retired DCNR forester and fellow CCC historian. 1-3 pm.
The September program page shows lots of great stuff happening on the PHMC's Trails of History this weekend and the rest of the month.
From 10:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday Sept.13, take part in Ask A Curator Day by tweeting your questions to Johnson @PHMC via Twitter. Make sure to include the #AskACurator hashtag.
From Howard Carter to William F. Albright, archaeologists and the captivating artifacts they uncover have fascinated the public for years. Often, people conjure up romanticized images of fedora hat-wearing archaeologists who grip fiery torches as they explore shadowy tombs. Tombs and torches really don’t define modern archaeologists; however, many do wear hats…just not fedoras. Not convinced? Here’s your chance to quiz an expert. Next week, dig deep into the working lives of Pennsylvania archaeologists via Janet R. Johnson, a curator with The State Museum of Pennsylvania’s Section of Archaeology.
Johnson, who curates and manages roughly eight million artifacts uncovered throughout the Commonwealth representing 14,000 years of occupation, has volunteered to take part in Ask A Curator Day from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Sept. 13 on Twitter via @PHMC. To date, more than 1,400 museums from 57 countries have signed up for Ask A Curator Day (#AskACurator), a world-wide social media event that engages the public and connects them with museum curators.
Janet R. Johnson
Essentially, Ask A Curator is a Twitter-based Q & A that serves as a venue where curators can chat with the public about nearly anything that piques their curiosity. Questions may range from the silly (“Are all archaeologists afraid of snakes?") to the more serious (“How do you know where to dig?”). From 10:30 a.m. to noon on Sept.13, take part in Ask A Curator Day by tweeting your questions to Johnson @PHMC via Twitter. Make sure to include the #AskACurator hashtag.
On Sept. 13, you can also share with us your photos and videos. Often, people relate stories about how and where they found a specific rock or artifact. Curators want to learn those histories and, in the process, might be able to offer a few previously unknown facts and interpretations.
This month, Johnson and her crew from The State Museum are excavating the Fort Hunter Mansion & Park near Harrisburg. The overall goal is to locate the remains of a French and Indian War-era supply fort occupied between 1757 and 1763.
The public is welcome to visit and archaeologists will be on site weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. until Friday, Oct. 6. In addition, the site will be open on Sunday, Sept. 17, for Fort Hunter Day.
This year, archaeologists from The State Museum will focus on two areas of Fort Hunter. The first is an area west of the milk house that was encountered in 2008 and again in 2016. It consists of two layers of artifacts dating to the late 18th and/or early 19thcenturies, based on previously uncovered ceramics.
Another area archaeologists will investigate is a rock foundation that has been interpreted as the octagonal smokehouse described in the 1820s in a farming magazine.
Today's post comes from PHMC Social Media Manager Sean Adkins, with info on the Pennsylvania State Archives and #AskAnArchivist, coming up next Wednesday, Oct. 5.
The Pennsylvania State Archives has a had busy year. This spring, the Archives unveiled plans to build a new home on a multi-acre plot along North Sixth Street in Harrisburg. Paying homage to Pennsylvania's namesake, William Penn, the address for the soon-to-be built project will be 1681 N. Sixth St. in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania was created when England’s King Charles II granted a charter to Penn in 1681.
So...with news for the new Archives building still fresh in our minds and the always present need to know more about Pennsylvania history, there should be no shortage of questions from the public for Ask An Archivist Day.
On Wednesday, October 5, four archivists with the Pennsylvania State Archives will participate in Ask An Archivist Day by taking to Twitter to answer your most pressing, or silly, questions regarding the state's archival collections.
Sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, Ask An Archivist offers the public the opportunity to connect directly to archivists in their community — and around the country — through asking questions, gathering information, or just satisfying curiosity.
Experts in protecting and sharing important historical materials, archivists assess, collect, organize, preserve and provide access to information that has lasting value.
Here are the folks who will be answering your questions :
Aaron McWilliams
-- Join archivist Aaron McWilliams from 11 a.m. to noon as he shares his knowledge of researching family histories and genealogy. So far, nearly 14 million documents preserved by the Pennsylvania State Archives have been digitized by Ancestry.com and are available free of charge to Commonwealth residents. These documents include select years of birth and death records, World War II bonus applications and marriage records.
Kurt Bell
-- Following up Aaron McWilliams will be his fellow archivist, Kurt Bell. A 20-year veteran of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Bell will spend 30 minutes answering questions about the railroad, oil, coal and iron industries. Bell will be available for his Q&A from noon to 12:30 p.m.
Rich Saylor
-- Next up will be Rich Saylor. Last year, Saylor fielded questions on pretty much anything related to Pennsylvania military history. This year, he's still willing to answer those same type of questions, however, his preferred area of Q&A will be focused on World War I history. Did you know that the Pennsylvania State Archives, in cooperation with the State Library of Pennsylvania, has digitized a collection of World War I posters? Join Rich from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Josh Stahlman
--Rounding out the day will be archivist Josh Stahlman who will offer tips on preserving your family records. Join Josh from 1 to 1:30 p.m.
How do I participate?
#AskAnArchivist Day is open to everyone - all you need is a Twitter account. To participate, just tweet a question @PHMC and include the hashtag #AskAnArchivist in your tweet. Your question will be seen instantly by our archivists.
You can ask pretty much any question that comes to mind. Here are a few examples from the Society of American Archivists:
What’s the craziest thing you’ve come across in your collections?
If your archives had a soundtrack, what songs would be on it?
What do archivists talk about around the water cooler?
How do you decide what should be kept and what should not?
Many thanks to PHMC Social Media Manager Sean Adkins for this post on the upcoming #AskACurator Day. If you're looking for PA Trails of History activities, the September program page will help you decide.
Next week, three curators stationed at historic sites across Pennsylvania are taking off the gloves. Well, only if they’re wearing gloves will they need to take them off. Sometimes, curators don’t wear…the point is that Sue Beates, Bruce Bomberger and Sue Hanna have graciously volunteered to take part in Ask A Curator Day on Wednesday, Sept. 14. So far, more than 1,000 museums and historic sites from all corners of the world have signed on for Ask A Curator Day, a social media event geared toward engaging the public and connecting them with museum staff.
Essentially, Ask A Curator is a Twitter-based Q&A that serves as a venue where curators and people can chat about nearly anything that piques their curiosity. Questions may range from the silly (“Do exhibits really come alive at night, after the museum is closed?") to the more serious (“Where do get your ideas for exhibits?”). Last year, our curators had fun answering a host of great questions.
And don’t be shy about sharing photos and videos. Often, residents share with us their Pennsylvania stories ranging from how their relatives toiled in the mines near Pittsburgh to the Native American pottery that’s been passed down from one generation to the next. Curators want to learn those histories and, in the process, might be able to offer a few previously unknown facts and interpretations. Just remember to submit your questions via Twitter with the #AskACurator hashtag. Have questions now that you want to ask? No problem. Send your questions now to info@patrailsofhistory.com and our curators will supply the answers on Ask A Curator Day.
At this point, you’re likely wondering which Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission curators will be taking off their gloves long enough to field your questions. Well, we’ve put together a strong lineup packed with the most knowledgable curators.
Here’s the who, where and when you’ll be speaking with on Sept. 14:
Drake Well curator Sue Beates (front) and collections volunteer Toni Urey
Who: Please join Susan Beates, curator at the Drake Well Museum and Park in Titusville, Pa., as she shares her knowledge of the History of the Pennsylvania Oil Industry. Susan has a Master of Arts in Public History from West Virginia University and Bachelor of Arts in History & Folk Arts from the same university. She's been floating in oil since February 1998. She will be joined by collections volunteer Toni Urey.
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum curator Bruce Bomberger
Who: Join Bruce Bomberger, curator at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum in Lancaster, Pa., as he answers questions about the Landis brothers, their lives, motivations and the collection preserved at the historic site. Bomberger, who has worked for PHMC since 1984, holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Lebanon Valley College, a Master of Arts in American History from Penn State University and a doctorate in American history from Lehigh University. He has prepared museum exhibits on agricultural technology, local inventors, African-American history, Pennsylvania German traditions, the Landis family and the Pennsylvania long rifle.
Who: Join Sue Hanna, regional curator for PHMC’s Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums, who will discuss the recently installed core exhibit at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum. The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) selected “Challenges and Choices in Pennsylvania’s Forests” as a 2016 Leadership in History award winner. This exhibit explores six time periods, from 800 BCE through the present, with the goal of illustrating the intended and unintended consequences of human interaction with the forest. Sue, who was part of the team that developed “Challenges and Choices in Pennsylvania’s Forests,” holds a graduate degree in American Civilization (Material Culture) from the University of Pennsylvania.
UPDATE: I'll be adding some of my favorite museum-related April Fool's Day jokes to the bottom of this post throughout the day.
The April program page is up and running, and I've highlighted some of this weekend's events below. But first...
This week's "Pennsylvania Treasure" post on the State Museum's website was written by Linda Bolla (a frequent guest blogger here on Trailheads). The focus of the piece (full text and image) is a Blue Star Service Flag from World War I that is part of the collection at the Erie Maritime Museum. It was displayed by Leila Seidel Stine and her parents at their home in Erie to denote that Leila's husband, William Stine (born 1887), was serving in the Armed Forces. William registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 (he and Leila married later that month) - he had already served 12 years in the Navy, on board USS Maine, USS Washington, and USS Wolverine (he appears in a crew photo that is part of the Museum's exhibit on the USS Wolverine/Michigan). "Pennsylvania Treasures" is a weekly post highlighting an object (occasionally a document) that is in PHMC's collection (you can subscribe and receive an email with each new post).
Speaking of Erie, I've always loved time lapse videos (even before there was anything called a "video"), so I thought I'd share this one from a past season of uprigging the U.S. Brig Niagara. This year's work has begun, and it should look something like this...
We are nearing the end of #MuseumWeek, an international Twitter event that has already featured hundreds, nay thousands, of tweets from museums all over the globe. Pennsylvania Trails of History sites @DrakeWellMuseum, @LandisValley, and @PHMC have been participating and more may join in for the remainder of the week. If you're on Twitter and want to join in, the daily hashtags are #FutureMW (today, April 1); #ZoomMW (April 2); and #LoveMW (April 3).
Dick Wanner reported on the new weathervane exhibit at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum for Lancaster Farming (the leading farm newspaper for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic). He spoke with curator Jennifer Royer and site administrator Jim Lewars and wrote a detailed article about some of the featured artifacts, including the oldest known weathervane in the U.S., produced in 1699 for William Penn and two of his business partners, Samuel Carpenter and Caleb Pusey. The exhibit will be on view through December.
Coming up...
Conrad Weiser Homestead April 3: Spring Lecture—speaker is Mark Turdo, curator of the Peter Wentz Farmstead, presenting "Without Noise or Parade: The Spiritual and Material Culture of Moravian Indian Missions." Site is open noon-4 pm, the lecture is at 2.
Ephrata Cloister April 2: Benefit Brunch at Ten Thousand Villages—the Ten Thousand Villages store in Ephrata will donate 15% of food and merchandise purchases between 9 am and 3 pm today to support the programs of the site. It's a win-win (or a win-win-win, since you'll also be supporting Ten Thousand Villages' fair trade programs). Site volunteers will also be on hand to talk about upcoming programs.
Pennsylvania Lumber Museum April 3: Community Day—planned events include trades demos in the logging camp, a guided walk on the Sustainable Forestry Trail (about a mile), and a 5-mile group hike on the trails around the museum. Community groups will be on hand in the visitor center to share their info, and there will be food and drink for purchase. Admission is free. Event will be held rain or shine (and there is great stuff to see inside if it's rainy). 9 am-5 pm.
Pennsylvania Military Museum April 6: Friends Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture Series—"The Mexican Border War" features Maj. Gen. John Stevens (U.S. Army Retired) discussing Pres. Woodrow Wilson's decision to send an American expedition (led by Brig. Gen. John Pershing) to pursue "Pancho" Villa in 1916. Donations accepted. 7:30 pm.
Somerset Historical Center April 4: “The Umberger Murder and the Trial of the Nicely Brothers”—in 1891, the Nicely Brothers were executed for killing Herman Umberger. Gretchen Smith and Jacob Miller will share the story of the murder, the trial, the execution, and the controversy surrounding them. The program will be followed by the Historical & Genealogical Society of Somerset County’s Annual Meeting. Admission is free. 6 pm.
State Museum of Pennsylvania April 1: PA State Geography Bee—please note that Mammal Hall and the Archaeology Galleries will be closed 12:15-2 pm today for the preliminary rounds of the state geography bee.
And now...
We are pleased to announce a new partnership with City of Pittsburgh - Office of the Mayor to make Pittsburgh,...
We took our five tribbles out of storage and fed them. What could go wrong? Learn more: http://s.si.edu/tribbletrouble#StarTrek #TribbleTrouble #BoldyGo
Ducks by the backyard pond are a sure sign of spring! (photo by AKF)
The March program page has all you need to know about events between now and the end of the month. The Railroad Museum of PA will be open Sunday (3/27), but I believe all other Trails of History sites will be closed for Easter (someone please correct me if I'm wrong and I'll update this info). UPDATE: The Pennsylvania Military Museum is open this Sunday - my apologies for the omission.
The PHMC's Commissioners, at their meeting on March 9, approved the latest round of historical markers, which cover a broad range of activities, personalities, and geographic locations. You can read more about this year's list on the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) blog. You'll find information on the historical marker program and how to submit a nomination on the PHMC website.
March 28 through April 3 is #MuseumWeek 2016, where hundreds (thousands?) of museums world-wide will be on Twitter to share their institutions with the public. The PHMC and several Trails of History sites participated last year and the public is invited to share content as well. Follow @PHMC or your favorite Trails of History site (and many others as well) to see what they're posting. There is a different theme for each day. Sean Adkins collected the PHMC-related tweets for MuseumWeek 2015 on Storify if you want to get a sense of the broad range of images people shared (some of the hashtags from 2015 are repeating in 2016 but there are also new ones). Please join in!
As I write this on Wed., Jan. 20, the forecasters are duking it out over which model will accurately predict the weather for this coming weekend. None of them look too good, unless you like shoveling snow. Alot. There are events scheduled for the Trails of History this weekend (check the program page), but as I always suggest, please check ahead to be sure the site you want to visit is open. The Somerset Historical Center's 18th-century cap workshop has been rescheduled from Jan. 23 to Jan. 30. UPDATE: The State Museum of PA, Cornwall Iron Furnace, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, Railroad Museum of PA, Somerset Historical Center, and Ephrata Cloister have announced they will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 23. Sunday schedules TBD.
One of the events scheduled for tomorrow (Jan. 23) is the Anthracite Heritage Museum's annual commemoration of the Knox Mine Disaster. Sunday, Jan. 24, is the snow date, but I would watch the museum's Facebook page for updates or call (570/963-4804) if the storm doesn't turn out to be a fizzle. If you're interested in mining history, you might want to learn about other events that have been going on during Mining History Month or check out an upcoming program on PBS's American Experience series, The Mine Wars, which explores coal mining in southern West Virginia in the early 20th century. (UPDATE: If you missed the broadcast, you can stream it for free for the next month via PBS.)
The Uncovering PA blog, written by Jim Cheney, recently featured a post about Jim's summer visit to the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum. Uncovering PA often includes info on the PA Trails of History.
If you know of a college or graduate student looking for a summer internship in the museum or archives field, it's not too late for them to apply to PHMC's Keystone Internship Program. Applicants can indicate the subject area or type of professional experience they're interested in and designate up to 3 possible internship locations, including PHMC historic sites and museums around the state or any of the Harrisburg operations (State Museum, State Archives, State Historic Preservation Office, etc.). Application instructions and materials are on the website; deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 12.
Washington Crossing Historic Park is in the running for Best Historic Spot and Best Scenic View (Bowman's Hill Tower) in the 2016 Bucks County Happening List voting. Help them win again as they have in the past (historic spot voting site and scenic view voting site).
Wednesday, Jan. 20, was #MuseumSelfieDay worldwide and many people on the Trails of History took part. I'm sharing my fave below; check out @PHMC's Storify summary of tweets from the Trails of History to see more.
Pennsylvania's Archives Month begins Thursday, October 1 with #AskAnArchivist Twitter Event
Filling out the branches of a family tree isn't easy. Hours of your time are spent sifting through decades of birth and death records. Sidetracks are common, especially if you discover that one of your relatives wasn't entirely truthful about their own history.
But, it's worth it...any archivist will tell you that.
On Thursday, October 1, four archivists with the Pennsylvania State Archives will participate in Ask An Archivist Day by taking to Twitter to answer anything and everything archives. Later in the day, State Archivist David Carmicheal will do his part by fielding your most pressing inquiries.
Sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, Ask An Archivist offers the public the opportunity to connect directly to archivists in their community — and around the country — to ask questions, get information, or just satisfy curiosity.
Experts in protecting and sharing important historical materials, archivists assess, collect, organize, preserve and provide access to information that has lasting value.
This year, Ask An Archivist Day, the kickoff to Pennsylvania's Archives Month, will focus on five areas of research. Here's the schedule:
10 a.m. to noon
Aaron McWilliams
Rich Saylor
Archivist Aaron McWilliams will take a break from his busy schedule to answer your questions on genealogy. Thanks to a continued collaboration between the Pennsylvania State Archives and Ancestry all of the publicly available death records from the Archives from 1906 until 1963 are now available online. In addition, Pennsylvania birth records from 1906 to 1908 are also available via ancestry.com.
In the second half of the first session,archivist Rich Saylor will take your questions on military history. Saylor is the author of the national-award winning book Soldiers to Governors: Pennsylvania's Civil War Veterans Who Became State Leaders.
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Kurt Bell
Josh Stahlman
Archivist Kurt Bell will lead off the second session of Ask An Archivist by answering your questions on Railroad Research. Don't hold back. Kurt is an expert when it comes to railroad history in the Commonwealth.
Next, Josh Stahlman, an archivist at the Pennsylvania State Archives since 2008, is ready to offer tips when it comes to Caring for Family Records.
3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
State Archivist David Carmicheal will spend the last hour of Ask An Archivist answering questions regarding his role with the Commonwealth. Before coming to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Carmicheal directed the Georgia Division of Archives and History. During his tenure, he oversaw the design and construction of the award-winning Georgia Archives building, introduced the Virtual Vault to provide online access to more than 1.5 million archival documents and helped lead national efforts in emergency management, particularly for the protection of essential government records.
David Carmicheal
How to participate:
#AskAnArchivist Day is open to everyone - all you need is a Twitter account. To participate, just tweet a question @PHMC and
include the hashtag #AskAnArchivist in your tweet. Your question will be seen instantly by our archivists.
You can ask pretty much any question that comes to mind. Here are a few examples from the Society of American Archivists:
What’s the craziest thing you’ve come across in your collections?
If your archives had a soundtrack, what songs would be on it?
What do archivists talk about around the water cooler?
How do you decide what should be kept and what should not?
Next week, you’ll have the opportunity to chat with a
few of the experts who care for many of Pennsylvania’s most-prized artifacts
and you won't have to leave your house or office.
On Wednesday, curators from three historic
sites along the Pennsylvania Trails of History will participate in #AskACurator Day, a Twitter-based event that connects curators with the public.Everyone is invited, so remember
to create a Twitter account if you haven’t already.
Launched in 2010, #AskACurator is coordinated by Mar
Dixon, a social media consultant.Essentially, #AskACurator is a way for visitors and other professionals
to engage with curators, often receiving immediate answers to questions about
collections, education…just about anything.
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, start by tweeting your
questions to @LandisValley using the #AskACurator hashtag.For the next hour, curator Jennifer
Royer will pull herself away from her daily tasks to field your questions on
everything Landis Valley. And, don’t be afraid to throw a few hardballs.Royer works
primarily with Pennsylvania German decorative arts, but has also dealt with
farm equipment, tools, rifles and an array of other artifacts. She is
responsible for the research library at Landis Valley and is currently working
on a weathervane exhibit to be installed next year.
Kerry Mohn will pull double duty
from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday as he juggles answering your questions while handling the collections management at the Ephrata Cloister. Tweet Mohn
@EphrataCloister using #AskACurator.A graduate of Pennsylvania State University and the former Kutztown
State College, Mohn has a special interest in Commonwealth history and
Pennsylvania German studies. Other interests include immigration, labor and baseball
history. A resident of Berks County, Kerry served as a trustee of the
Historical Society of Berks County and as president of the Governor Mifflin Area
Historical Society.
Between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Wednesday, remember to clear out a good block of time to chat with John
Fielding, the curator for the Anthracite Museum Complex, which includes the
Anthracite Heritage Museum, Scranton Iron Furnaces and Eckley Miners’
Village.Tweet Fielding @AnthraciteMuse using #AskACurator.During his tenure at the complex, Fielding has served as the lead worker
for eight exhibits at the Anthracite Heritage Museum and Eckley Miners’
Village. His interests range from the 19th-and 20th-century
anthracite mining processes to the cultural significance of the many ethnic
groups who moved to the anthracite region of Pennsylvania.
What should I ask?
Well…that’s entirely up to you.Last year, #AskACurator questions ranged from "Which artifacts require the most
attention?" to "What's the story behind the green
tiles around the fireplaces at Pennsbury Manor?".See our Storify of the conservations had between the public
and curators at Pennsbury Manor, Old Economy Village and Drake Well Museum andPark.
Still not sure what to ask?
Here's a short list of questions visitors often ask curators:
-- What is it like to be a curator?
-- What is your favorite artifact?
-- What is the oldest piece in your
collection?
-- Which artifact has the best story?
-- Which artifact makes you laugh
and/or cry?
-- How do you know when to wear
gloves?
-- How do you decide which artifacts
go on display.
*Please refrain from asking for item
appraisals or artifact identification.
Today's guest blogger is Sean Adkins, PHMC's Information Specialist. Next week, follow @PHMC on Twitter as we highlight our collections and offer a behind-the-scenes look at exhibits during #MuseumWeek.
A week-long program set to kick off Monday, March 23, #MuseumWeek is a global social media effort that partners thousands of museums with Twitter, encouraging institutions to tweet about their collections while urging the public to share their memories and experiences.
Each day of the week carries a different theme designed to introduce visitors to what goes on behind the scenes at museums, large and small. Those who log on will not only unearth long-held secrets, but will also learn the stories behind the architecture of each institution. Visitors are encouraged to share photos and videos of what they like best about their museum.
The themes are broken into seven hashtags including #secretsMW, #souvenirsMW, architectureMW, #inspirationMW, #familyMW, #favMW and #poseMW.
Start the week by going to @PHMC on Twitter. Look for tweets leading to behind-the-scenes videos that explain how exhibits go from ideas to fleshed-out displays. Watch as volunteers learn how to educate visitors with the help of a recently fabricated period cart. Catch a clip of renovation experts revamping the dioramas inside The State Museum's Mammal Hall.
Behind-the-scenes volunteer training, State Museum of PA
On Wednesday, tour The State Museum with PHMC's architectural supervisor and discover the secrets of Midcentury Modern design. Finish off the week with our five CAP curators as they pose with William Penn.
And don't forget to look for #MuseumWeek tweets from or share your memories of other sites along the Pennsylvania Trails of History. Pennsbury Manor (@PennsburyManor) and Landis Valley (@LandisValley) have signed up, but many others are on Twitter. UPDATE: Washington Crossing Historic Park (@FriendsofWCP) has now registered.
We have a lot planned for #MuseumWeek, but what we want most is to hear from you. What secrets of the museum would you like us to reveal? Share your favorite museum memories and allow us to retweet your experiences.
Trailheads is a behind the scenes look at the historic sites and museums along Pennsylvania's Trails of History. For more information, visit http://www.patrailsofhistory.com/.
Please note that some staff and volunteers at PA Trails of History sites are wearing masks while indoors. Visitors are encouraged, though not required, to do so as well.
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